Combined wash-over and well tubing retriever apparatus



March F. L.. LE BUS, SR

COMBINED WASH-OVER AND WELL TUBING RETRIEVER APPARATUS Filed March 25. 1960 t i l V Y L ngt! 2 Sheets-Shea?l 1 A INI/ENT ELLeBz/.s

March 26, 1963 COMBINED WASH-OVER AND WELL TUBING RETRIEVER APPARATUS Filed March 25, 1960 F. L. LE BUS, SR

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. L. [.eus

grooves '24, 2S and 30 cooperate to provide upwardly extending female J-slots for the inner body 1S. The closed groove 3) extends downwardly into communication with a lower horizontally disposed groove 34 which is provided with a lower pocket portion 36. In addition, the groove 30 extends downwardly below the horizontal groove 34 into a flared groove portion 33 having the lower end 40 thereof open. The grooves 30, horizontal grooves 34, and pockets 36 cooperate to provide inverted or downwardly extending female J-slots for the inner body 15. The groove 30 forms the short leg of the upper upright J-slot and the long leg of the inverted J -slot and, in addition, provides a passageway permitting communication therebetween.

At least one of the -horizontal grooves 34 is provided with a spring urged latch member 42. `It is preferable to provide two oppositely disposed latches 42 as shown in FIG. S, but not limited thereto. The latch 42 is disposed in a recess portion `44 (FIG. l0) provided in the body l15, and is retained therein by a plurality of keeper screws 46. The latch 42 is constantly urged radially outward by a plurality of springs 48 having one end anchored in the recess 44 and the oposite end anchored in a pocket portion 50 provided in the latch 42. The latch 42 is normally in an extended or outwardly extending position for blocking the entrance or exit to the horizontal passageway 34 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

A centrally disposed longitudinally extending bore 52 is provided in the inner body v1S for a fluid passageway therethrough. The upper end of the body 1S is preferably provided with a threaded box portion 54 and the lower end thereof is provided with a threaded pin member 56 for engaging the upper coupling 58 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) of a stuck sh or tubing 60. The tubing 6) is normally provided with a collar member 62 having an external packer member 64 secured `therebelow, as is well known.

It will be apparent that a horizontal shoulder 66 closes the lower end of each of the grooves 24 and forms the lower edge of the horizontal groove 28. -In addition, a horizontal shoulder l63 is provided at the upper edge of the second horizontal groove 34 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

Operation When the tubing 60 has become lodged within a well bore (not shown) for any reason, the upper portion of the tubing is normally removed from the well, leaving the lodged portion therein. In order to dislodge the iish, it is usually necessary to ream the stuck tubing for freeing thereof whereby it may be retrieved. The combination retrieving `tool 10 and wash-over pipe or string 12 are lowered into the bore whereby the pin connection 56 may be engaged with the stuck tubing coupling member 58. In order to lock the inner body 15 within the nipple 14 whereby the combined tool may be lowered into the well bore, the wash-over string is lowered over the body 15 for simultaneously lowering the nipple 14 whereby the lugs 22 will enter the open ends 26 of the grooves 24. It will be apparent that the tapered shoulders 27 will guide the lugs 22 into the grooves for facilitating the telescoping operation. The ywash-over string is preferably lowered sufficiently over the body y15 for telescoping the nipple 14 thereover -whereby the lugs 22 engage the shoulder 66 at the bottom of the grooves 24. A right hand rotation may then be imparted to the wash-over string for moving the lugs 22 through the horizontal grooves 28 and into the vertical or longitudinal grooves 39 adjacent thereto. The nipple `14 is then lowered slightly with respect to 'the body 1S and a left hand rotation is imparted to the nipple for moving the lugs 22 into the horizontal grooves 34.

It will -be apparent that a sutiicient left hand torque must be applied to overcome the pressure or force of the springs 4S whereby the latches 42 may be depressed for permitting the lugs to move into the grooves 34. When the lugs .22 are fully disposed within the grooves 34, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, the latches 42 will be disengaged therefrom and `will be moved outwardly into the extended position therefor by the springs 48. The latches 42 thus retain the lugs 22 within the groove 34 and substantial-ly preclude any accidental disengagement of the lugs or movement thereof into the groove 30 during the lowering of the combined tool into the well bore. As the wash-over string 12 is lowered within the bore, the lugs 22 will engage the shoulder 68 for suspending the inner Vbody 15 within the nipple 14 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.

When the pin member 56 approaches or contacts the coupling member 58, downward movement of `the body 15 will be prec-luded whereby the nipple 14 will move downwardly with respect thereto. This causes the lugs 22 to move into the pockets 36 as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. l and 2. A right hand torque is applied to the wash-over string `12, and the torque is transmitted to the inner body 15 by the contact of the lugs 22 with the vertical shoulder 70 of the pocket 36. Thus, the pin member 56 will be threadedly engaged with the coupling 58 for securing the retrieving tool 10 to the stuck fish 60.

When the pin 56 is fully threaded into the coupling 5S, further right hand rotation of the body 1S is precluded due to the engagement thereof with the stuck tish, and in order to ream around the stuck fish for a freeing thereof, the wash-over string 12 is then raised slightly for lifting the lugs 22 out of the pockets 36 and into contact with the upper shoulder 68. A right hand torque is then imparted to the wash-over pipe for overcoming the force of the spring urged latches 42 causing a depressing thereof whereby the lugs 22 may be moved into the grooves 30. The wash-over string 12 is lthen lowered while maintaining a right hand torque, and the lugs 22 will move downwardly in the grooves 36 and into the enlarged or flared portion 33. A continued downward movement of the wash-over string 12 will move the lugs 22 out of the open end 4G of the ared recesses or grooves 38 whereby there will be no driving connection between the nipple 14 and inner body 15. In this position (not shown), the washover string 12 and reamer 20 may be operated in the usual manner for reaming around the stuck fish 60.

Usually sand and other mud deposits have accumulated around the tubing ofi above the packer, and it is desirable to ream out these deposits for facilitating the freeing of the stuck fish. It is also sometimes necessary to ream out the packer 64 in addition to the tubing for dislodging thereof before the tubing and packer can be removed or retrieved from the well bore.

When the operator has ascertained that sufficient reaming has taken place for removing or releasing the stuck fish, the wash-over string 12 is vertically raised within the bore whereby the lugs 22 are brought into the fiared grooves 38. It will be apparent that the flared or tapered shoulders or sides of the grooves 3S facilitate the guiding of the lugs into the grooves 30. A continued upward pull on the wash-over string combined with a right hand torque will move the lugs upwardiy in the grooves 30 until the lugs are brought into engagement with the upper shoulder 32 thereof as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. The right hand torque is preferably applied to the washover string to assure that the lugs 22 will not enter either of the horizontal grooves 28 or 34 during the upward movement of the pipe. With the lugs 22 in position against the shoulder 32, a continued upward pull on the wash-over pipe 12 will raise the' inner body 15 and the stuck fish connected thereto for retrieving of the tubing 60 and packer 64.

The lodged tubing may not be completely loosened by the reaming operation, and if desired, the apparatus may be utilized as a jarring tool to assist in the loosening of the tubing. After the roaming operation, and with the lugs 22 in the upper position inthe groove 30 against the shoulder 32, the wash-over string may be vertically reciprocated 5, while maintaining a right hand torque. The lugs and shoulders 32 will cooperate to provide a jarring action for facilitating the dislodging or freeing of the tubing.

In the event the reaming operation was not sufficient to loosen the stuck packer and tubing, the wash-over string may be lowered oncey again with a combined right hand torque for moving the lugs out the open end 40 of the grooves 30 whereupon the reaming operation may be continued for freeing of the stuck fish. However, if for some reason, the operator does not desireto re-ream, with the lugs in position against the shoulder 32, the wash-over string is let down or lowered with a partial left hand rotation or torque until the lugs 22 are brought into contact with the tapered shoulder 33. The contact of the lugs 22 with the shoulder 33 in combination with the left hand torque moves the lugs into the longitudinal grooves 24 and into a position adjacent the lower shoulder 66 thereof. A slight continued left hand torque will assure that the lugs 22 will be positioned adjacent the vertical shoulder 72 of the grooves 24 whereby the lugs 22 will be in alignment with the open ends 26 thereof. In this position, a vertical unward movement of the wash-over pipe will move the lugs 22 upwardly and out of the grooves 24 as shown' in dotted lines in FIG. 4 and the wash-over string 12, in- \luding the nipple 14 and the reamer 20, may be removed from the well bore, leaving the inner body or spline stem 15 connected with the stuck tubing and packer. The driller or operator may then either re-enter the well bore with the same tool, or use any other suitable type of tool for loosening the stuck tubing, as desired. It will be apparent that the box member S4 of the body 15 facilitates removal of the stuck fish in this instance.

It is to be understood that the novel retrieving and reaming apparatus may be utilized for recovering stuck 4drill collars, and the like, from a well bore, and is not limited to retrieving stuck tubing. However, in utilizing the tool for retrieving stuck drill collars, the lugs would be of a heavier and stronger construction than required for recovering stuck tubing. Furthermore, in the event the stuck fish is reamed free and begins to drop toward the bottom of the well bore, the lugs 22 will re-enter the grooves 30 and will engage the upper shoulder 32 thereof for precluding a loss of the fish. Tubing is normally positioned in the proximity of the bottom of the bore and thus, the falling thereof is not as great a problem as in the case of drill collars.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a combined reamer and retrieving apparatus wherein a stuck fish may be dislodged from a well bore and retrieved therefrom in one operation. The novel tool is so designed and constructed that the stuck tubing may be engaged prior to any roaming operation. The retrieving tool may be locked to the wash-over stringl by combined vertical and rotation-al movements for lowering of the combined tool into the bore for engagement with the stuck tubing. After the engagement of the retrieving tool with the tubing, a combined vertical and rotational movement of the wash-over string will disengage the retrieving body therefrom whereby the tubing may be reamed for a dislodging thereof. Upon loosening of the stuck lish, a combined vertical upward and right hand torque is maintained on the wash-over string for removal of the fish simultaneously with the combined tool. The novel tool is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. In combination with a wash-over pipe having a reamer carried thereby, a retrieving tool for recovering a stuck fish, comprising an outer sleeve interposed in the wash-over pipe, an inner body telescopically disposed within the sleeve, means provided on the inner body for en'- gaging the stuck iish, a plurality of male lugs provided on the inner periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of circumferentially spaced upright J-slots provided on the outer periphery of the inner body, each of said J-slots having one end thereof open for receiving a lug therein upon a downward movement of the wash-over pipe relative to the inner body, a plurality of circumferentially spaced inverted J-slots provided on the outer periphery of the inner body, a plurality of passageways provided on the inner body and extending between the short legs of the upright J-slots and the long legs of the inverted J-slots, the short leg of the inverted `l-slots receiving the lugs therein in one position between the inner body and sleeve for locking the inner body for simultaneous vertical movement with the wash-over pipe, the inverted J-slots having one end thereof open for releasing the lugs from engagement with the upright `l-slots upon a combined downward movement and right hand rotation of the wash-over pipe when said lugs are positioned in the long legs thereof to provideI for independent movement of the wash-over pipe with respect to the inner body, and short legs of the upright J-slots receiving the lugs therein upon an upward movement of the wash-over pipe to provide for removal of the fish simultaneously with the retrieving tool and wash-over pipe.

2. In combination with a wash-over string having a reamer carried thereby, a retrieving tool for recovering a stuck fish, comprising an outer sleeve interposed in the wash-over string, an inner body telescopically disposed within the sleeve, means provided on the inner body for engaging the stuck fish, a plurality of spaced lugs provided on the inner periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of spaced upright J-slots provided on the outer periphery of the inner body and each having one leg thereof open upwardly for receiving one of the lugs therein, a plurality of inverted spaced J-slots provided on the outer periphery of the inner body and each having the long leg thereof open downwardly, a plurality of slots provided on the inner body and extending between the short legs of the upright J-slots and the long legs of the inverted J-slots, the short leg of the inverted J-slots receiving the lugs therein in one position between the inner body and sleeve for locking the inner body for simultaneous vertical movement with the wash-over pipe, means provided on the body for pre'- cluding accidental removal of the lugs from the short leg of the inverted `l-slots, the inverted J-slots each having the long leg thereof open for releasing the lugs from engagement with the inverted J-slots upon a combined right hand rotational and vertical downward movement of the wash-over pipe when the lugs are positioned in the long leg to provide for independent movement of the wash-over pipe with respect to the inner body, and the short leg of the upright J-slots receiving the lugs therein upon a vertical upward movement of the wash-over pipe to provide for removal of the lish simultaneously with the retrieving tool and wash-over pipe.

3. In combination with a wash-over string having a reamer carried thereby, a retrieving tool comprising an outer sleeve interposed in the wash-over string, an inner body telescopically arranged with respect to the sleeve, a plurality of spaced lugs provided on the inner periphery of the sleeve, a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves provided on the outer periphery of the body for receiving the lugs therein, a plurality of second longitudinal grooves interposed on the body between the first mentioned grooves and having the upper end thereof closed and the lower end thereof open, horizontal grooves provided on the body for communication between the adjacent pairs of said longitudinal grooves, a pocket provided on the body in communication with each of the second mentioned longitudinal grooves and spaced from the horizontal grooves for receiving the lugs therein in one relative position between the sleeve and body to provide simultaneous vertical movement of the body with the wash-over string, latch means provided on the body for precluding accidental removal of the lugs from the pockets, means provided on the body for engaging the stuck fish, said lugs movable through the open lower ends of the second longitudinal grooves upon a downward movement of the wash-over string to release the inner body from engagement with the sleeve for independent movement of the wash-over string whereby the stuck fish may be reamed, said lugs movable into a position adjacent the upper closed end of the second longitudinal grooves upon a vertical upward movement of the wash-over string whereby the reamed fish may be removed simultaneously with the retrieving tool and wash-over string.

4. In combination with a wash-over pipe having a reamer carried thereby, a retrieving tool for recovering tubing lodged in a packer in a well bore comprising an outer sleeve interposed in the wash-over pipe, an inner mandrel telescopically arranged with the outer sleeve, means provided on the mandrel for engaging the lodged tubing, spline means carried by the sleeve and mandrel and comprising a plurality of spaced upright J-slots in open communication with a plurality of spaced inverted J-slots provided on the mandrel and a plurality of spaced lug members provided on the sleeve, said upright J-slots having one end open for receiving the lugs therein upon a downward movement of the sleeve with respect to the mandrel, said inverted J-slots having one end thereon open for releasing the lugs from engagement with the upright J-slots upon a combined downward movement and right hand rotation of the sleeve, said spline means cooperating between the mandrel and sleeve in one relative position therebetween for locking the mandrel to the Sleeve for simultaneous rotational and vertical movement with the wash-over pipe, said spline means responsive to an upward vertical movement of the wash-over pipe and sleeve with a subsequent vertical downward and right hand rotational movement thereof for releasing the locking engagement between the sleeve and mandrel whereby the lodged tubing and packer may be reamed, and said spline means responsive to a combined vertical upward and right hand rotational movement of the wash-over pipe and sleeve for engaging the sleeve and mandrel in a second relative position therebetween for removal of the reamed tubing and 8 packer simultaneously with the wash-over pipe and retrieving tool.

5. In combination with a wash-over pipe having a reamer carried thereby, a retrieving tool for recovering a stuck sh, and comprising an outer sleeve interposed in the wash-over pipe, an inner body telescopically disposed within the sleeve, means provided on the inner body for engaging the stuck fish, spline means carried by the sleeve and inner body and comprising a plurality of spaced upright J-slots in open communication with a plurality of spaced inverted J-slots provided on the mandrel and a plurality of spaced lug members provided on the sleeve, said upright J-slots having one end open for receiving the lugs therein upon a downward movement of the sleeve with respect to the mandrel, said inverted J-slots having one end thereon open for releasing the lugs from engagement with the upright J-slots upon a combined downward movement and right hand rotation of the sleeve, said spline means cooperating between the sleeve and inner body in one relative position therebetween for locking the inner body to the sleeve for simultaneous downwardly vertical and rotational movement with the wash-over pipe whereby the inner body may be connected to the stuck fish, said means movable to disengage the sleeve from the inner body to provide for independent movement of the wash-over pipe upon a combined right hand rotation and vertical downward movement of the wash-over pipe and sleeve whereby the stuck fish may be reamed, and said means responsive to a combined upward vertical movement and right hand rotation of the wash-over pipe and sleeve to provide an engagement between the sleeve and inner body in a second relative position therebetween for removal of the reamed sh simultaneously with the retrieving tool and wash-over pipe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,438 Naylor Sept. 11, 1956 2,879,849 Le Bus Mar. 3l, 1959 2,918,259 Le Bus Dec. 22, 1959 2,921,630 Le Bus Ian. 19, 1960 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WASH-OVER PIPE HAVING A REAMER CARRIED THEREBY, A RETRIEVING TOOL FOR RECOVERING A STUCK FISH, COMPRISING AN OUTER SLEEVE INTERPOSED IN THE WASH-OVER PIPE, AN INNER BODY TELESCOPICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN THE SLEEVE, MEANS PROVIDED ON THE INNER BODY FOR ENGAGING THE STUCK FISH, A PLURALITY OF MALE LUGS PROVIDED ON THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE SLEEVE, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED UPRIGHT J-SLOTS PROVIDED ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE INNER BODY, EACH OF SAID J-SLOTS HAVING ONE END THEREOF OPEN FOR RECEIVING A LUG THEREIN UPON A DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE WASH-OVER PIPE RELATIVE TO THE INNER BODY, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED INVERTED J-SLOTS PROVIDED ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE INNER BODY, A PLURALITY OF PASSAGEWAYS PROVIDED ON THE INNER BODY AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SHORT LEGS OF THE UPRIGHT J-SLOTS AND THE LONG LEGS OF THE INVERTED J-SLOTS, THE SHORT LEG OF THE INVERTED J-SLOTS RECEIVING THE LUGS THEREIN IN ONE POSITION BETWEEN THE INNER BODY AND SLEEVE FOR LOCKING THE INNER BODY FOR SIMULTANEOUS VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITH THE WASH-OVER PIPE, THE INVERTED J-SLOTS HAVING ONE END THEREOF OPEN FOR RELEASING THE LUGS FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPRIGHT J-SLOTS UPON A COMBINED DOWNWARD MOVEMENT AND RIGHT HAND ROTATION OF THE WASH-OVER PIPE WHEN SAID LUGS 